Begonia plant named ‘YASPYELL’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of hybrid  Begonia , ‘YASPYELL’, that is characterized by its large flowers that are yellow in color, its semi-double sterile male flowers and single female flowers (with one or two extra tepals), its flowers with broad tepals, its flowers that have a high degree of forward and horizontal facing flowers, its compact and well-branched habit without cane production in its first year of growth, and its foliage that is medium green in color.

Botanical classification: Begonia hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘YASPYELL’.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Plant Patent applications filed forcultivars derived from the same breeding program entitled Begonia PlantNamed ‘YASPRINK’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,266), ‘YASPWHIT’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 23,281), and Begonia Plant Named ‘YASPED’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.22,412).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically a hybrid that includes Begonia boliviensis hybrids inits parentage. The new cultivar is known as Begonia ‘YASPYELL’ and willbe referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘YASPYELL’. ‘YASPYELL’ isa new cultivar of Begonia that is particularly useful for use inflowerbeds, containers, and hanging baskets.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor at his nursery in Congleton, Cheshire, UnitedKingdom. The overall purpose of the breeding program is to makeselections of Begonia plants that perform well as basket and patioplants. ‘YASPYELL’ was selected in the Inventor's greenhouse in July of2008 as a single unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from across made in June of 2007 between unnamed Begonia plants of hybridorigin from the Inventor's breeding program as the female and maleparents.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemtip cuttings in Congleton, Cheshire, United Kingdom in July of 2008 bythe Inventor. Asexual propagation by stem tip cuttings has determinedthat the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and arereproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar, which in combination distinguish‘YASPYELL’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia.

-   -   1. ‘YASPYELL’ exhibits large flowers that are yellow in color.    -   2. ‘YASPYELL’ exhibits semi-double sterile male flowers and        single female flowers (with one or two extra tepals).    -   3. ‘YASPYELL’ exhibits flowers with broad tepals.    -   4. ‘YASPYELL’ exhibits flowers that have a high degree of        forward and horizontal facing flowers.    -   5. ‘YASPYELL’ exhibits a compact and well-branched habit without        cane production in its first year of growth.    -   6. ‘YASPYELL’ exhibits foliage that is medium green in color.

The female differs from ‘YASPYELL’ in having pale pink to rose coloredflowers. The male parent of ‘YASPYELL’ differs from ‘YASPYELL’ in havingpinkish red flowers. ‘YASPYELL’ can be most closely compared tocultivars from the same breeding program: ‘YASPWHIT’, ‘YASPRINK’, and‘YASPED’. ‘YASPWHIT’ differs from ‘YASPYELL’ in having white flowerslightly flushed with pink. ‘YASPRINK’ differs from ‘YASPYELL’ in havingpink flowers. ‘YASPED’ differs from ‘YASPYELL’ in having dark redflowers, a more pendulous plant habit and in having a more vigorousgrowth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Begonia.

The photograph In FIG. 1 was taken of a plant approximately three monthsin age (4 cuttings per 15-cm container) that was grown in an unheatedgreenhouse under ambient light in Congleton, Cheshire, United Kingdom.The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘YASPYELL’ in bloom.

The photographs in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 were taken of plant parts of plantsapproximately three months in age (4 cuttings per 15-cm container) thatwere grown in an unheated greenhouse under ambient light in Naaldwijk,The Netherlands. The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view ofthe female flowers of ‘YASPYELL’. The photograph in FIG. 3 provides aclose-up view of the semi-double male flowers of ‘YASPYELL’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Begonia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants of the new cultivarapproximately three months in age (4 cuttings per 15-cm container) asgrown in an unheated greenhouse with ambient light in Naaldwijk, TheNetherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General plant characteristics:    -   -   Plant type.—Deciduous tuberous perennial, grown primarily            for use in baskets and containers.        -   Plant habit.—Compact and well-branched habit without cane            production in its first year of growth.        -   Flowering period.—From May to October in Congleton,            Cheshire, United Kingdom.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 40 cm in height and about            35 cm in spread (4 cuttings in a 30-cm container.        -   Cold hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zone 10.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fleshy to fibrous.        -   Growth rate.—Semi-vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Stem tip cuttings.        -   Root development.—10 to 14 days to initiate roots and 6 to 8            weeks to produce a young rooted plant.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem size.—Average of 30 cm in length and 8 mm in diameter            with lateral branches about 5 mm in diameter.        -   Stem shape.—Round, solid.        -   Stem color.—146D unexposed side, 180C exposed side.        -   Stem surface.—Smooth, and covered with a few colorless            hairs, lenticels absent.        -   Internode length.—Up to 60 mm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Branching angle at emergence.—Approximately 30° to            horizontal.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate, strongly asymmetric with one side            narrowly ovate and the other side is narrowly cordate and            wider.        -   Leaf division.—Entire.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color 139B on upper surface and 138B            on lower surface.        -   Leaf margins.—Irregular serrate with short bristles emerging            from tips of the teeth.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; slightly glossy and covered            with very occasional scattered short colorless hairs, lower            surface; slightly glossy and covered with very occasional            scattered short colorless hairs.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface; 139A, lower surface; 138B,            variegation absent.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 11.5 cm in length and 4 cm in width.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Petioles.—Up to 3.8 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter, 173D            in color, surface is sparsely pubescent with simple            translucent hairs.        -   Stipules.—Narrowly triangular in shape, 149D and rapidly            becoming dry and papery, about 5 mm in length and 3 mm in            width.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—2 to 3 flowered cymes produced            sequentially in the axils of the upper leaves, monoecious.        -   Inflorescence number.—Up to 15 per flowering stem.        -   Peduncles.—Up to 5.5 cm in length and 2.5 mm in diameter,            color; 149D, 150D where exposed, surface texture is glabrous            (pubescence absent).        -   Flower persistence.—Self-cleaning.        -   Flower type.—Male flowers semi-double, female flowers single            (with one or two extra tepals).        -   Flower longevity.—An average of 10 to 14 days depending on            conditions.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower number.—3 per inflorescence, up to 12 per stem.        -   Flower aspect.—Upward and outward.        -   Bracts.—2, rounded to reniform in shape, obtuse apex, up to            9 mm in length and 1.3 cm width, 149D, flushed with 35C            where exposed, covered with bristly hairs on upper part of            margin.-   Male flowers:    -   -   Pedicels.—Up to 2.8 cm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter,            color; 149D, 150D where exposed.        -   Flower buds.—Flattened broad ovoid in shape, up to 1.9 cm in            length and 1.2 cm in diameter, color is 145C, glabrous and            smooth surface texture.        -   Flower size.—Up to 3 cm in length and 6.5 cm in width.        -   Flower shape.—Cupped to flared.        -   Flower aspect.—Facing horizontally.        -   Tepals.—Outer tepals; 2, broad ovate in shape, obtuse apex,            rounded base, average of 3.5 cm in length and 2.8 cm in            width, glabrous and smooth surface, entire margin, color;            outer surface is 9D, 4D at the base, inner tepals; 3 to 5            together with extra petals of various shape and size formed            from adapted stamens, obelliptic to narrow obelliptic in            shape, obtuse apex, cuneate base, up to 3.5 cm in length and            1.4 cm in width, surface is glabrous and smooth on both            surfaces, entire margin, color; ranging between 9D and 4D,            8C at the base.        -   Perianth form.—Flared, tepals are un-fused.        -   Stamens.—3 to 12, obelliptic, some twisted, up to 2.2 cm in            length and 1 cm in width, 8A in color.        -   Filaments.—Up to 4 cm in length, 0.5 mm in width, 4C in            color.        -   Anthers.—Elliptic in shape, 1 mm in length, <1 mm in width            and 14B in color.        -   Pollen.—Moderate to sparse in quantity and 8D in color.-   Female flowers:    -   -   Pedicels.—Average 3.5 cm in length and 1.5 mm in width,            149D, 150D where exposed.        -   Flower buds.—Flattened ovoid in shape, about 2 cm in length            and 1.3 cm in diameter, color is 145C, glabrous and smooth            surface texture.        -   Flower size.—About 3 cm in length (excluding ovary) and 5 cm            in width.        -   Flower shape.—Flared to cupped.        -   Flower aspect.—Facing horizontally.        -   Tepals.—Outer tepals; 2, ovate to broad ovate in shape,            obtuse apex, rounded base, average of 2.7 cm in length and            2.3 cm in width, glabrous and smooth surface, entire margin,            color; outer surface between 9C to 9D, occasionally suffused            with 31C, inner surface 8B to 8C, inner tepals; 3 to 4,            broad elliptic to ovate in shape, obtuse apex, cuneate base,            up to 2.6 cm in length and 1.7 cm in width, glabrous and            smooth surface, entire margin, color; outer surface 9C to            9D, inner surface 8B, 8A at base.        -   Perianth form.—Flared, lepals ale un-fused.        -   Styles.—3 in number, cylindrical, connate at base for <1 mm,            up to 3 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter and 14C to 14D in            color.        -   Stigmas.—Bifid in shape, stigmatic surfaces twisted around            extensions of the style, lobes about 3 mm in length and 1 mm            in diameter, 14B in color.        -   Ovaries.—Inferior, triangular in cross section with angles            unequally winged, about 9 mm in length and 7 mm in width            (excluding wings), color is 144B to 144C.        -   Seed.—No seed, capsules fall before fully ripening.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘YASPYELL’ as herein illustrated and described. 